The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 207

tion agi,.inet m11,king too much of ekill,derler- present tense, do always behold), but tho i ty. nnd 11,droitness in bnsinesS11,nd occupation. angels especially appointed to wotoh ond 'J'Lere is a enbtle snare in them; they may protect them-their guardian angels. 'l'his dr,1w the he&rt away from God,and must be doctrine (which, o.s of very solemn import, restrained and modified, so as not to inter- the Lord introduces with his usual formula, fore with the cultivation of religion and the I say unto you), that eaoh soul has assigned care of the eoul. Enter into life. This is to it by God a special angel, is grounded on an addition not found in the sermon on the this, and supported by many other passnges mount; it refers to the eternal life which, of Scripture (comp. Heb. i. 14: Ps. xxxiv. beginning on earth, is consummo.ted in 7: xci. 11: Luke xv. 7, 10). It has been he&ven. Everlasting fire ( .,.1, 'lnip .,-1, alwv,ov). questioned how angels oe.n be said to suocour This is the first time that this phrase occurs. 11B on earth, while in heaven they are always lYLatever thC'se words may mean, there can looking on the face of the Father. The be no doubt that they signify, and are in- difficulty has been answered, among others, tended to signify, some awful kind and ex- by St. Gregory, who writes," They never ao tent of punisLment, the fear of which may go forth apart from the vision of God, ss to deter from each sins as incur it. It is not be deprived of the joys of interior contempla- morally expedient to minimize the force of tion. They are both sent from him, and 6uch terms by disputing about the exact stand by him too, since both in that they are co11notation of "mon.ian." WLen we re- oircumscribed, they go forth, and in this that member that the words are spoken by the they a.re l!,l.so entirely present, they never go lo\'ing and pitiful Saviour, we must allow away. Thus they at the same time always that they point to eome dreadful reality, the behold the Father's face, and yet come to us: import of which he knew, and which he thus because they both go forth to us in a spiritual mercifully veiled from us as not able to bear presence, and yet keep themeelvea there, the full revelation (see on eh. x.xv. 46). whence they had gone out, by virtae of Ver. 9.-Hell fire. A synonym for the interior contemplation" (' Moral.,' ii 3). It " eTerla;;ting fire" of the previous verse, and is probable that the highest order of angels the "unquenchable fire" of the Baptist's is hel'O signified, such as among the Jews warning (eh. ili.12), and to be understood in was called, "the augels of the presence, or the same sense. It is good to be saved even of the face." To behold the king's face with the loss of ell that makes earthly life means, in Eastern parlance, to be admitted happy and precioUL to his immediate'. presence-to enjoy his VeL 10.-From this verse to the end of special favour and confidence (see 2 Kings the eh.a.pt.er we find no pe.ra.llel in the other x.xv. 19: Estb. i. 14; Jer. lii. 25). It is to evangeliBts. The Saviour here retnma to these supreme beings, who draw their know- the subject of children, whether literally or ledge and love directly from Almighty God, metaphorically so called, and proclaims the end receive their commands from his mouth, high appreciation which is tbeirdne, Take that the tender lambs of Christ's flock are heed (opan, see) that ye despise not one committed. This fe.ct demonstrates their (,viis) of these little ones. God's ce.re is dignity and the great heinollBilesB of setting minute; it extends to ee.ch individual of a stnmLling-block in their way. • the class. The contempt denounced might Ver. 11.-This verse is omitted by the arise in various ways and from various con- Sinai tic and Vatican ManUBcripts, and many fiiderationa. The advanced believer might modem editors, e.g. LaoLmann, Tischendorf, deepiae children u not competent to enter Tregelles, Westcott and Hort, and the Re- into covenant with God or fit to receive vised. Version: but is retained in many good Church privileges, whereas circwncision uncials, nearly all the cursives, the Vulgate, under the old dispensation and infant Syriac, etc. It is supposed to be 11,ll inter- baptism under the gospel afford a very polalion from Luke xi.x. 10: but one does different view. Again, to say or do unseemly ~t see why, if this is the case, the ~nter- things in the presence of children is a mode polater should have left out the striking of" despising" which may prove a deadly verb "to seek," which would naturally he.vl" offence. Or the contempt may be on the coincided with "seeketh" in ver. 12. For side of the ambitions and seU-seekini1;, who expository use, at any rate, we may consider caDDot understand the simple and cLildlik:e the verse as genuine, and take it as the spirit which seekethnot its own. The Lord commencemeut of the second argument .for jtivea two proofs of the high consideration the dignity of the little ones-the simple and due to his little ones. The first proof is humble, whether children or othen. '.!.'his that which follows; the second is given in proof is derived from the action of God vers. 11-14. Their angel& Not "their towards them, '1'he Son of man ii come to spirits after death," e.s some commentators save that wbioh was lost ( orb A,ro.\111.\&s). enoneonsly interpret (for the term "augel " How can ye despise those whom Christ hatb 11 not so used, and Christ speaks in the so luved and deemed so preci0WI that he OIi, xvm. 1-35.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, 211